Accessing personal assistance services in the workplace: struggles and successes.

This article explores the concept of personal assistance services (PAS) in the workplace for individuals with disabilities. Three focus groups were conducted with individuals with disabilities who use PAS in the workplace. Thirteen men and three women provided insight regarding their experiences accessing and maintaining personal assistants in the workplace. Issues of discrimination, knowing who and when to request worksite PAS, self identifying with a disability, and understanding one's PAS needs were identified as important factors in PAS at the workplace. The recommendations participants most frequently reported were to become a strong self-advocate and improve public policy around worksite PAS. Discussion focuses on how to incorporate the experiences and insights of the participants into enhancing the rehabilitation process for individuals who want to be in the workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]